After the green light from the Member States (see EUROPE 12404/14), the European Commission adopted, on Thursday 30 January, the three regulations (two implementing acts and one delegated act) on measures giving flexibility in the promotion programmes for wine products in order to mitigate the effects of the US sanctions against EU agricultural products.
The delegated act will have to be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a maximum period of 2 months, but the EU institutions envisage an accelerated adoption process.
On 18 October 2019, the United States of America imposed a 25% ad valorem import duty on, inter alia, bottled still wines exported to the United States by France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. "This exceptional and unpredictable situation has serious repercussions on trade in EU wines. The EU wine sector producing bottled still wines believes it is being unfairly victimised by the Airbus situation", the proposal states (http://bit.ly/314ANtw ).
The three texts (two of which were adopted by the Commission) have three objectives. First, producers will have the opportunity to change the target markets of their already approved promotional campaigns. Member States will also be able to amend their national programmes several times a year. This flexibility will allow for quicker adaptation to immediate needs.
Secondly, the Commission proposes to increase the EU funding rate for wine promotion campaigns to 60% (currently set at 50%). This will reduce the financial burden of these campaigns on operators.
Thirdly, the limit on the duration of the sector's promotion programmes - currently set at 5 years - will be suspended to help producers consolidate the targeted markets. The current programming period for wine ends on 15 October 2023, and until that date there will be no limit on the duration of promotional campaigns. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)